Here is a warm & stylish cowl handwoven by myself, Fiona, on my Saori floor loom, combining alpaca & wool and some silk. Along the length of the cowl are threads of vibrant silk, with a fine silk thread woven in along with the naturally dyed alpaca. The alpaca yarn is from our own herd of suris and the wool comes from Nundle Woollen Mill in northern NSW. I have first dyed the alpaca yarn, using natural dyes.
This cowl is a single length with a twist at the base so it sits comfortably at the neck. It pairs perfectly with open necked Tshirts, tunics and dresses. You can have the fringe either out on display or turn the scarf over to have the plain edge showing.
At Ashculme Textiles we walk gently on this precious earth. I hand weave each piece at my studio in rural NSW, using the yarn from our small herd of Suri Alpaca. The process is mostly here on the farm – after shearing, we clean the fleeces before sending them to a local mill where small batches are washed, carded & spun. I use natural dyes working with rain water that flows directly from the tank and on into the garden after use. In my weaving the designs come as I weave, allowing my fingers to instinctively create as they work.
Alpaca fibre is resilient and this piece will keep its shape and softness for years.
Should you need to wash it, do so by hand only, in warm soapy water, agitating as little as possible. Squeeze out excess water by folding it in a towel and pressing down. Do not wring. Dry laid out flat. Not to be tumble dried. Iron with a cool iron, protecting it with a cotton or linen tea towel.
